Dynamo Healthcare Training Ltd

Further education and skills inspection report

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Inspection of Dynamo Healthcare Training Ltd

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Overall effectiveness Good

The quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Outstanding Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Apprenticeships Good Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Not previously inspected

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Information about this provider

Dynamo Healthcare Training Limited (DHCT) is an independent learning provider established in 2013. DHCT’s head office and administration are based in Hayle in Cornwall. As a new provider of apprenticeships, DHCT received a monitoring visit in May 2021. At that time, inspectors judged DHCT to be making reasonable progress against the themes they explored.

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Information about this provider

The apprenticeships DHCT provides are adult care worker, lead adult care worker, lead practitioner in adult care, leader in adult care, senior healthcare support, healthcare assistant practitioner, operational management, customer service and business administration. At the time of inspection, 77 apprentices were studying apprenticeships at level 3, 38 at level 2, 18 at level 4 and 29 at level 5. All but four apprentices were over 18. 19 to 21 July 2022

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices are extremely positive about their learning and how they apply it at work. Apprentices develop important professional behaviours which they demonstrate very well in their caring roles. These include punctuality, reliability, reflective practice, respecting confidentiality and providing compassionate care. During the COVID-19 pandemic, apprentices in care settings have received very good support from their assessors and employers. As a result, apprentices demonstrate considerable resilience and offer very effective care within exceptionally challenging circumstances.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

Apprentices feel safe. As a result of the training they receive, apprentices understand and apply appropriate health and safety practice at work. They keep themselves and their clients safe. They apply infection control measures effectively. Apprentices know how and to whom to report any concerns about their own safety and welfare.

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What is it like to be a learner with this provider?

The guidance on careers that apprentices receive is not sufficiently broad and unbiased. Apprentices are clear about opportunities for advancement with their current employers and the further training available to them. However, not enough apprentices are aware of the wider career paths available to them on completion of their apprenticeship.

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better?

Senior leaders have a clear and ambitious strategy for their apprenticeship curriculum which is to address the skills shortage in the care sector within Cornwall. Leaders and managers make effective use of their working relationships with employers to inform their curriculum plans. As a result, the curriculum keeps up to date with the emerging challenges within the care sector.

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better?

Leaders have a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of their apprenticeship programmes. Their processes to assure the quality of their provision clearly identify areas for development. They act on them swiftly.

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better?

Leaders and staff set high standards for apprentices. They expect them to make good progress, become better employees and achieve well in their apprenticeships. The majority of apprentices successfully meet these aspirations. They produce high- quality work and achieve high grades in their final assessments. Almost all learners move on to sustained employment within the care sector.

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better?

Assessors establish clearly apprentices’ existing vocational knowledge, and their mathematics and English skills, at the start of their apprenticeships. Assessors use this knowledge perceptively to plan learning that meet the individual needs of apprentices and the care settings where they work. 19 to 21 July 2022

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DHCT’s assessors have good working relationships with the staff at the apprentices’ care settings. Assessors are flexible in planning the sequence of units at the start and throughout the apprenticeships, in order to meet the specific needs of employers.

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Assessors carefully ensure that they cover key concepts in care early in the apprenticeships. This provides their apprentices with important foundations on which to base further learning. Assessors consistently prioritise considerations of health and safety and client care throughout the course.

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Assessors successfully encourage apprentices to reflect on their performance. They require them to keep a detailed journal throughout their apprenticeships, in which they identify areas for improvement in their work. As a result, apprentices quickly improve their skills in caring for clients and become highly valued employees.

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Many apprentices gain broader skills and knowledge through following additional specialist courses. These include courses in highly relevant topics such as autism spectrum disorder, behaviour management and managing clients with mental health conditions.

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Most apprentices have increased their responsibilities during their apprenticeship and make a significant contribution at work. For example, an apprentice has used their newly acquired knowledge about policies and procedures to strengthen and clarify their employer’s accountabilities concerning shift work. This has improved relationships between staff within the workforce. Other initiatives include apprentices introducing electronic systems to replace paper-based approaches for recording medication. These new systems eradicate the risk of errors.

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DHCT’s assessors are highly experienced and knowledgeable. Assessors use their wealth of experience effectively in care settings to relate theory to practice. Leaders place a strong emphasis on improving assessors’ knowledge through carefully selected professional development. As a result, assessors remain very up to date.

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Not all employers are involved enough in the planning of the apprenticeship programmes or in contributing to reviews of apprentices’ progress. As a result, the coordination of apprentices’ training away from the workplace and with that at work is not always sufficiently effective.

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Assessment is fair and consistent. Feedback from assessors is constructive and helps apprentices improve both the content of their work and their written English. Assessors use a good range of assessment methods effectively to check apprentices’ understanding and plan further learning. Assessors are flexible in adapting these methods to meet apprentices’ changing roles within their settings.

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Apprentices are respectful and contribute very positively in their roles at work. They are very sensitive to the diverse needs of their clients. They have a good understanding of fundamental British values such as the importance of the rule of law. 19 to 21 July 2022

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Apprentices’ understanding of threats associated with living in modern Britain is not broad enough. They receive generalised training on the dangers and risks of extremism and radicalisation. However, they are not sufficiently aware of local risks such as those from county lines exploitation.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

Apprentices feel safe and know whom to contact if they have a concern.

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Safeguarding

Leaders have implemented appropriate policies and procedures that all staff use effectively to safeguard apprentices. This includes checking appropriate assessments of the potential risks to apprentices working on their own are in place. All staff are trained in safeguarding and the ‘Prevent’ duty and use this knowledge to inform their training of apprentices effectively. The designated safeguarding lead is suitably experienced and has received appropriate training to carry out the role. Leaders complete the necessary checks when appointing new staff to ensure their suitability to work with apprentices.

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What does the provider need to do to improve?

 Managers and assessors should ensure that employers are fully involved throughout the apprenticeship in order to coordinate what apprentices learn on and off the job.  Leaders and managers should ensure that apprentices receive sufficient impartial advice and guidance on the range of options available on completion of their apprenticeships.  Leaders and managers should ensure that all apprentices have a good awareness of specific local risks associated with life in modern Britain. 19 to 21 July 2022

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Provider details

Address Unit D Pattern Shop Trevoarn Hayle TR27 4EZ

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Provider details

Website www.dynamohealthcaretraining.co.uk

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Provider details

Provider type Independent learning provider

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Provider details

Date of previous inspection Not previously inspected

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Provider details

Main subcontractors None 19 to 21 July 2022

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Information about this inspection

The inspection team was assisted by the chief executive officer, as nominee. Inspectors took account of the provider’s most recent self-assessment report and development plans, and the previous inspection report. The inspection was carried out using the further education and skills inspection handbook and took into account all relevant provision at the provider. Inspectors collected a wide range of evidence to inform judgements, including visiting learning sessions, scrutinising learners’ work, seeking the views of learners, staff and other stakeholders, and examining the provider’s documentation and records.

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Inspection team

Roger Pilgrim, lead inspector Ofsted Inspector Sara Hunter Ofsted Inspector Maria Woodger Ofsted Inspector Jim Grant Ofsted Inspector Clifford Shaw Ofsted Inspector 19 to 21 July 2022

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regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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